Jingtong Old Trail Introduction
The Jing Tong Old Trail, established over a hundred years ago, originated during the Qing Dynasty when residents from Shui Fan Jiao (present-day Xizhi) traversed the mountains and forests to settle in Jing Tong Keng. The residents traveled between Pingxi and Xizhi, using shoulder poles to transport various goods, thereby forming a mountain path. During the Japanese colonial period, the coal mining industry in Pingxi led to an influx of population, making Pingxi a mining hub. Although the Pingxi Railway was built mainly for coal transport, the Jing Tong Old Trail remained a vital transportation route to Xizhi. Along the trail, there is a giant rock with an ancient upright stone tablet on it. The inscription, though faded, can still be recognized, stating "Road Opening Commemorative Tablet," which marks a significant site established during the road construction of the Jing Tong Old Trail in the Japanese era. After 1971, roads connecting Pingxi to Muzha, Ruifang, and Xizhi were opened, leading to a decline in traffic on the old trail, which is now only frequented by hikers exploring its beauty. The Jing Tong Old Trail begins at the Dongshan River Valley trailhead along the Xiping Road, passing through the Shiqizai Mountain area, crossing the highest point at Panshilin where it intersects with the Xiping Road, and then entering the Pingxi area, passing through Rouban Kagang, Bird Nest Cliff, Cloud and Mist Valley, and the Mo Shenzi Cave, finally arriving at Jing Tong Keng. The old trail is divided into two segments; the Xizhi segment starts at Dongshan Road, past the Ren'ai Bridge trailhead, while the Pingxi segment's entrance is directly opposite the土地公廟 at Panshilin, making it quite obvious. The Xizhi section features rural paths and scattered villas among the mountains, while the Pingxi section offers challenging dense forest trails.
